ALF (Animal Liberation Front) -
Group that has a strong belief that animals are treated unfairly and say that for an animal, “everyday is 9/11”. They, raid animal testing facilities, sabotage animal laboratories and fur farm structures in an attempt to free the animals from captivity. Any action that causes the advancement of animal liberation can be directly linked to the Animal Liberation Front. September 4, 2008 an interview with Melanie Arnold she admitted to having taken part of a slaughter house burning to try and protest the use of animals in food industries. She said she was not alone and many other activists had the same belief that animals should not be slaughtered for food. Group started in England in 1976 by Ronnie Lee. This organization is active in over 40 countries at this time.
ELF- (Earth Liberation Front) -
This group is ecologically friendly. They use economic sabotage and guerrilla warfare to try and discourage the exploitation and destruction of the environment. This group was founded in the United Kingdom in 1992, but spread to the rest of the world by 1994. They were named the top domestic terrorist group in the US by the FBI in 2001. They destroy facilities or machines that they think are being used to harm animals mostly by setting fire to them after they release the captured animals. They use hit and run tactics. March 3rd, 2008, they set fire to many mansions using explosive devices in Washington claiming that the homeowners said they built their house “green” and were environmentally friendly. The initials of ELF were spray painted on the sides of the homes claiming they were built “nope, black”. This attack cost over $7 million dollars in damage.
Daniel Andreas San Diego
He was an animal rights activist; he had ties with SHAV (Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty). On August 28, 2003, two sophisticated homemade bombs exploded approximately one hour apart, the second intended to target the responding police officers and firefighters after the explosion of the first bomb, these bombings occurred at the Chiron Corporation in Emeryville, California, causing minor property damage but no injuries. The Second bomb was wrapped up with nails and other metal sharp objects, again it causing damage but thankfully no casualties. The FBI believes this second bomb was timed to target first responders. The bombs used ammonium nitrate explosives and mechanical timers. Unfortunately the FBI has not been able to catch Daniel Andreas San Diego and he is still at large, a 250,000 dollar bounty is currently on him.
Ku Klux Klan The main goal of the KKK is to implement white supremacy above all existing races in the US. They also have a high nationalist sentiment. In August 2005, North Georgia White Knights member pleaded guilty to building pipe bombs which were intended to blow up buses carrying Mexican and Haitian migrant workers from Tennessee to Florida. In November 2005, he received a 170-month federal prison sentence. This isn’t the only event that the KKK has pushed the limits. In 2003 the Pennsylvania Klan leader David Hull was convicted on illegal weapon charges that allegedly planned to use hand grenades to attack abortion clinics. James Von Brunn
He was a white supremacy nationalist; he denies that the Holocaust ever happened. Brunn wrote many antisemitic essays and pamphlets and created the website called The Holy Western Empire. He was considered as a skeptic, he questioned President Obama’s Legitimacy. He claimed that he wasn’t born in the US therefore doesn’t qualify as a president. IN 2009 he attacked the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. In the Whole incident a security guard has been killed while Brunn was injured. He was named as the main suspect in the shootings and was charged with first degree murder. While he was waiting for his trial and sentencing, Brunn died in January 2010 at age 89.
INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST GROUPS:
The Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC)
Located in Algeria
Date Started: 1996
Goals: Overthrow Algerian government and replace it with an Islamic theocracy.
Main Anti-US activities- Unknown at this point.
Recent Activities:April 8, 2005: Ambushed five cars at a false roadblock. 14 dead, 1 injured, February 12, 2004: Ambush of Algerian paramilitary officers. 7 killed, 3 injured, November 23, 2002: Ambush of a group of Algerian soldiers. 9 dead, 12 wounded
Strength- Unknown- suspected to have several hundred to several thousand members.
Affiliations- Algerian expatriates and GSPC members living abroad. The Algerian government has accused Iran and Sudan for supporting Algerian extremists. Some GSPC members in Europe are suspected of having ties with other North African extremists sympathetic to Al Qaeda.
Comments- GSPC is a splinter group of the GIA (Armed Islamic Group)-gained popular support through its pledge not to attack any civilians inside Algeria, has not kept the pledge. It was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization on March 27, 2002.
Hezbollah (Party of Gold)
Located in Lebanon
Date Started- First emerged in 1982
Goals: Increase political power in Lebanon; oppose Israel and Middle East peace negotiations.
Main Anti-US activities: Known or suspected to be involved in many U.S. terrorist attacks, including the suicide truck bombing of the U.S. embassy and U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983. From 1982 to 1983, Hezbollah is thought to have been involved in 36 suicide attacks against American, French, and Israelis forces. In 2009, a Hezbollah plot in Egypt was uncovered where Egyptian authorities arrested 49 men.
Strength: Several thousand supporters and a few hundred terrorist operatives.
Affiliations: Receives weapons of financial, training, weapons explosives, and other forms of aid from Iran and Syria.
Comments: A radical Shia organization founded in Lebanon. Listed as active Foreign Terrorist Organization in 2000.
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) – Colombia
Created in 1964.
Goal: replace the current government with a Marxist Regime.
Anti-US Activities: March 1999-FARC executed three U.S. Indian Activists in Venezuela after group kidnapped them in Colombia. In 2003, took 3 American hostage after plane crash in Colombia. November 2005- kidnapping of sixty people, being held hostage by the FARC until government decides to release hundreds of their comrades serving prison sentences.
Strength: approximately 9,000 to 12,000 members; unknown amount of supporters.
Locations: Colombia with some activities in Venezuela, Panama, and Ecuador.
Affiliations: Cuba provides them with some medical care and political consultation.
A Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) listed as "active" during 2000.
Al Jihad- Egypt
Started in late 1970s.
Goals: Overthrow Egyptian government and replace with Islamic state; attack US and Israeli interests in Egypt and abroad.
Anti-US Activities: 1998- attempted to bomb US Embassy in Albania. October 2000-bombing of the USS Cole in Aden, Yemen. Sept. 11, 2001-attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Mohamed Atta- from Egypt and recruited by al Qaeda.
Strength: Unknown; suspected to be several hundred
Locations: Mainly Cairo but also has a network outside of Egypt- Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, Lebanon, and the United Kingdom
Affiliations: partner of Osama Bin Laden’s al Qaeda. Assumed to have completely merged with al Qaeda.
Hamas (Islamic Resistance Movement)
Started in 1987
Goals: Establish Islamic Palestinian state in place of Israel.
Activities: 2010- ambushed cars and murdered people inside, 2008- one killed and 40 wounded when suicide bomber blew himself up in shopping center in Dimona; entered into high school and stabbed two students.
Strength: Unknown number of dedicated members, thousands of supporters and sympathizers
Locations: Primarily Israel
Affiliations: Funding from Palestine, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.
Why has the United States been a target of terrorist attacks?
status of our country in the world (superpower)
easy access to media
border of the United States is easy to cross without being detected
taken a stand on War on Terror
way of living (western civilization, democracy and capitalism)
Impact of Religion on Spawning on Terrorism-
Other religions may promote the destruction of others so theirs becomes the dominant religion.
people are willing to die for their religion
religion brings people together to fight for a common cause
some religions use martyrdom to achieve eternal happiness
Conclusion: 1. We think that the threat of terrorism lies mostly outside of our borders. Through the media, there is more coverage on international terrorism than domestic terrorism. Also, groups are merging with al Qaeda, which is a well known threat to the United States. The fact that we also engage in many wars causes a threat to our safety. 2. A few of the groups we researched do have legitimate reasons to have hate towards our country. Many are working on their religious beliefs and some are attacking us for intruding on a war against their country and another country. Yet, most other groups just believe that our way of living is wrong and have a hatred towards us. They want to destroy anything to do with the United States government. 3. Yes, we think that we are biased because we live in the United States. As Americans, we view other countries that attack us as enemies. We also believe that we live the ideal life and they attack us for just pure hatred of the way we live.
Domestic and International Terrorist Groups
DOMESTIC TERRORIST GROUPS:
ALF (Animal Liberation Front) -
Group that has a strong belief that animals are treated unfairly and say that for an animal, “everyday is 9/11”. They, raid animal testing facilities, sabotage animal laboratories and fur farm structures in an attempt to free the animals from captivity. Any action that causes the advancement of animal liberation can be directly linked to the Animal Liberation Front. September 4, 2008 an interview with Melanie Arnold she admitted to having taken part of a slaughter house burning to try and protest the use of animals in food industries. She said she was not alone and many other activists had the same belief that animals should not be slaughtered for food. Group started in England in 1976 by Ronnie Lee. This organization is active in over 40 countries at this time.
ELF- (Earth Liberation Front) -
This group is ecologically friendly. They use economic sabotage and guerrilla warfare to try and discourage the exploitation and destruction of the environment. This group was founded in the United Kingdom in 1992, but spread to the rest of the world by 1994. They were named the top domestic terrorist group in the US by the FBI in 2001. They destroy facilities or machines that they think are being used to harm animals mostly by setting fire to them after they release the captured animals. They use hit and run tactics. March 3rd, 2008, they set fire to many mansions using explosive devices in Washington claiming that the homeowners said they built their house “green” and were environmentally friendly. The initials of ELF were spray painted on the sides of the homes claiming they were built “nope, black”. This attack cost over $7 million dollars in damage.
Daniel Andreas San Diego
He was an animal rights activist; he had ties with SHAV (Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty). On August 28, 2003, two sophisticated homemade bombs exploded approximately one hour apart, the second intended to target the responding police officers and firefighters after the explosion of the first bomb, these bombings occurred at the Chiron Corporation in Emeryville, California, causing minor property damage but no injuries. The Second bomb was wrapped up with nails and other metal sharp objects, again it causing damage but thankfully no casualties. The FBI believes this second bomb was timed to target first responders. The bombs used ammonium nitrate explosives and mechanical timers. Unfortunately the FBI has not been able to catch Daniel Andreas San Diego and he is still at large, a 250,000 dollar bounty is currently on him.
Ku Klux Klan
The main goal of the KKK is to implement white supremacy above all existing races in the US. They also have a high nationalist sentiment. In August 2005, North Georgia White Knights member pleaded guilty to building pipe bombs which were intended to blow up buses carrying Mexican and Haitian migrant workers from Tennessee to Florida. In November 2005, he received a 170-month federal prison sentence. This isn’t the only event that the KKK has pushed the limits. In 2003 the Pennsylvania Klan leader David Hull was convicted on illegal weapon charges that allegedly planned to use hand grenades to attack abortion clinics.
James Von Brunn
He was a white supremacy nationalist; he denies that the Holocaust ever happened. Brunn wrote many antisemitic essays and pamphlets and created the website called The Holy Western Empire. He was considered as a skeptic, he questioned President Obama’s Legitimacy. He claimed that he wasn’t born in the US therefore doesn’t qualify as a president. IN 2009 he attacked the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. In the Whole incident a security guard has been killed while Brunn was injured. He was named as the main suspect in the shootings and was charged with first degree murder. While he was waiting for his trial and sentencing, Brunn died in January 2010 at age 89.
INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST GROUPS:
The Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC)Located in Algeria
Date Started: 1996
Goals: Overthrow Algerian government and replace it with an Islamic theocracy.
Main Anti-US activities- Unknown at this point.
Recent Activities:April 8, 2005: Ambushed five cars at a false roadblock. 14 dead, 1 injured, February 12, 2004: Ambush of Algerian paramilitary officers. 7 killed, 3 injured, November 23, 2002: Ambush of a group of Algerian soldiers. 9 dead, 12 wounded
Strength- Unknown- suspected to have several hundred to several thousand members.
Affiliations- Algerian expatriates and GSPC members living abroad. The Algerian government has accused Iran and Sudan for supporting Algerian extremists. Some GSPC members in Europe are suspected of having ties with other North African extremists sympathetic to Al Qaeda.
Comments- GSPC is a splinter group of the GIA (Armed Islamic Group)-gained popular support through its pledge not to attack any civilians inside Algeria, has not kept the pledge. It was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization on March 27, 2002.
Hezbollah (Party of Gold)
Located in Lebanon
Date Started- First emerged in 1982
Goals: Increase political power in Lebanon; oppose Israel and Middle East peace negotiations.
Main Anti-US activities: Known or suspected to be involved in many U.S. terrorist attacks, including the suicide truck bombing of the U.S. embassy and U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983. From 1982 to 1983, Hezbollah is thought to have been involved in 36 suicide attacks against American, French, and Israelis forces. In 2009, a Hezbollah plot in Egypt was uncovered where Egyptian authorities arrested 49 men.
Strength: Several thousand supporters and a few hundred terrorist operatives.
Affiliations: Receives weapons of financial, training, weapons explosives, and other forms of aid from Iran and Syria.
Comments: A radical Shia organization founded in Lebanon. Listed as active Foreign Terrorist Organization in 2000.
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) – Colombia
Created in 1964.
Goal: replace the current government with a Marxist Regime.
Anti-US Activities: March 1999-FARC executed three U.S. Indian Activists in Venezuela after group kidnapped them in Colombia. In 2003, took 3 American hostage after plane crash in Colombia. November 2005- kidnapping of sixty people, being held hostage by the FARC until government decides to release hundreds of their comrades serving prison sentences.
Strength: approximately 9,000 to 12,000 members; unknown amount of supporters.
Locations: Colombia with some activities in Venezuela, Panama, and Ecuador.
Affiliations: Cuba provides them with some medical care and political consultation.
A Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) listed as "active" during 2000.
Al Jihad- Egypt
Started in late 1970s.
Goals: Overthrow Egyptian government and replace with Islamic state; attack US and Israeli interests in Egypt and abroad.
Anti-US Activities: 1998- attempted to bomb US Embassy in Albania. October 2000-bombing of the USS Cole in Aden, Yemen. Sept. 11, 2001-attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Mohamed Atta- from Egypt and recruited by al Qaeda.
Strength: Unknown; suspected to be several hundred
Locations: Mainly Cairo but also has a network outside of Egypt- Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, Lebanon, and the United Kingdom
Affiliations: partner of Osama Bin Laden’s al Qaeda. Assumed to have completely merged with al Qaeda.
Hamas (Islamic Resistance Movement)
Started in 1987
Goals: Establish Islamic Palestinian state in place of Israel.
Activities: 2010- ambushed cars and murdered people inside, 2008- one killed and 40 wounded when suicide bomber blew himself up in shopping center in Dimona; entered into high school and stabbed two students.
Strength: Unknown number of dedicated members, thousands of supporters and sympathizers
Locations: Primarily Israel
Affiliations: Funding from Palestine, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.
Why has the United States been a target of terrorist attacks?
- status of our country in the world (superpower)
- easy access to media
- border of the United States is easy to cross without being detected
- taken a stand on War on Terror
- way of living (western civilization, democracy and capitalism)
Impact of Religion on Spawning on Terrorism-Conclusion:
1. We think that the threat of terrorism lies mostly outside of our borders. Through the media, there is more coverage on international terrorism than domestic terrorism. Also, groups are merging with al Qaeda, which is a well known threat to the United States. The fact that we also engage in many wars causes a threat to our safety.
2. A few of the groups we researched do have legitimate reasons to have hate towards our country. Many are working on their religious beliefs and some are attacking us for intruding on a war against their country and another country. Yet, most other groups just believe that our way of living is wrong and have a hatred towards us. They want to destroy anything to do with the United States government.
3. Yes, we think that we are biased because we live in the United States. As Americans, we view other countries that attack us as enemies. We also believe that we live the ideal life and they attack us for just pure hatred of the way we live.